Friday, August 19 2005 13:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: In a major breakthrough, the Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested a prime suspect in the July 28, 2005 Shramjeevi Express blast case near Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) that killed 14 people and wounded about 70.

Aslam Khan was nabbed yesterday (August 18, 2005) from Godhra in Gujarat after his physical features matched with sketch of a suspect in the crime, released by the police.

Khan, originally hailing from Etah district of UP, is presently based at Pratapnagar in Vadodara, Gujarat.

''The terrorist belonged to the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and was one of the two prime suspects directly responsible for triggering the ghastly blast," the GRP sources claimed today (August 19, 2005).

They said although Khan admitted that he was in UP between July 13 to 30, 2005 he was yet to accept his hand in the blast.

Meanwhile, the GRP is expected to bring him to Varanasi for a parade before those wounded in the blast for identification.